Integration of genomics and histology revises diagnosis and enables effective therapy of refractory cancer of unknown primary with PDL1 amplification

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Stefan Gröschel - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Martin Bommer - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Barbara Hutter - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Jan Budczies - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • David Bonekamp - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Christoph Heining - , National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg, Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Peter Horak - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Martina Fröhlich - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Sebastian Uhrig - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Daniel Hübschmann - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Christina Geörg - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Daniela Richter - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Nicole Pfarr - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Katrin Pfütze - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Stephan Wolf - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Peter Schirmacher - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Dirk Jäger - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Christof von Kalle - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Benedikt Brors - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Hanno Glimm - , National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg, Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Wilko Weichert - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Albrecht Stenzinger - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Stefan Fröhling - , Heidelberg University  (Author)

Abstract

Identification of the tissue of origin in cancer of unknown primary (CUP) poses a diagnostic challenge and is critical for directing site-specific therapy. Currently, clinical decision-making in patients with CUP primarily relies on histopathology and clinical features. Comprehensive molecular profiling has the potential to contribute to diagnostic categorization and, most importantly, guide CUP therapy through identification of actionable lesions. We here report the case of an advanced-stage malignancy initially mimicking poorly differentiated soft-tissue sarcoma that did not respond to multiagent chemotherapy. Molecular profiling within a clinical whole-exome and transcriptome sequencing program revealed a heterozygous, highly amplified KRAS G12S mutation, compound-heterozygous TP53 mutation/deletion, high mutational load, and focal high-level amplification of Chromosomes 9p (including PDL1 [CD274] and JAK2) and 10p (including GATA3). Integrated analysis of molecular data and histopathology provided a rationale for immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy with pembrolizumab, which resulted in rapid clinical improvement and a lasting partial remission. Histopathological analyses ruled out sarcoma and established the diagnosis of a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Although neither histopathology nor molecular data were able to pinpoint the tissue of origin, our analyses established several differential diagnoses including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). We analyzed 157 TNBC samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas, revealing PDL1 copy number gains coinciding with excessive PDL1 mRNA expression in 24% of cases. Collectively, these results illustrate the impact of multidimensional tumor profiling in cases with nondescript histology and immunophenotype, show the predictive potential of PDL1 amplification for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), and suggest a targeted therapeutic strategy in Chromosome 9p24.1/PDL1-amplified cancers.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)a001180
JournalCold Spring Harbor molecular case studies
Volume2
Issue number6
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2016
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 27900363

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • multifocal breast carcinoma, neoplasm of the gastrointestinal tract